Chain ladder



July 4,1944. H, P, OPP ETAL 2,353,035

CHAIN LADDER Filed April 5, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F G! 3 FIG; 2

FIG-7.3.

. INVENTORS M42040 A Hop BY V9 w/vwEss: 5 WW7. ATTORNEYS 2257 v v I July 4, 1944. HOPP r 2,353,035

CHAIN LADDER Filed April 3, 1943 4 Sheeis-Sheet 2 4 INVENTORS HAROLD Hop/ EDWARD Al/A/ZELMAM V I ij b'gm ATTORNEYS FIG. .7.

y .1944- H. P. HOPP EI'AL 2,353,035

CHAIN LADDER Filed April 3, 1943 I 4 SheetsSheet 3 INVENTORS I HAROLD A? HoPp EDWARD KU/VZEL MAN Patented July 4, 1944 Harold r. nopp, Englewood, N. 1., and Edward Kunzelman, Mount Vernon, N. Y., assig'nors to,- H. K. Metal Craft Manufacturing 00., New

York, N. Y.

Application April 3, 1943, Serial No. 481,663

12 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in ladders and more particularly it pertains to ladders of the flexible type of which the well known Jacob's ladder is one side or wall to provide hand and foot room for 7 persons using the ladder.

The earlier types of such ladders were constructed from wood and rope, the steps or tread members and spacing elements or ears as they are known in the art, being formed of wood, while the side members or stiles were formed of rope.

More recently, such ladders have been constructed wholly of metal, the stiles being formed of chain. Y

Such ladders, however, due mainly to the necessities of forming the parts and the assembling thereof, are expensive. They are also heavier than those constructed of wood and they also lack buoyant qualities.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel construction whereby flexible ladders of the aforementioned type may be constructed from wood and metal, the steps and spacing ears being formed of wood while the -stiles are formed preferably from chain.

A feature of the invention resides in a. novel construction of a wood spacing earwhich novel construction provides for attachment of such ears to stiles in the form of chains.

Another feature of the invention resides in novel construction which permits of the forma- .tion of steps from a pluralityof tread members t'igidly secured together in spaced. parallel relalon.

Still another feature of the invention residesin the employment of a single means forsecuring the tread members together in spaced relation to form the steps and for securing the steps to the stiles and to the spacing ears. p j

Other features of the invention relate to certain novel and improved constructions, arrangements, and combination of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. the advantages of which will be readily unde stood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention will be clearly understood from the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention in its preferred forms and the followin shown.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a two step section-of a ladder constructed in accordance with one form of the present invention,

Figure 2 is a view thereof in side elevation,

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one of the steps showing the stiles in section,

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken longitudinally through one of the steps substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through one of the spacing ears taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through one of the spacing ears taken substantially on theline 6-6of Figure 5,

Figure '7 is a distended perspective view of the assembly, the chain being illustrated diagrammatically in dot and dash lines,

Figure 8 is. a view in elevation illustrating a modified form of the invention,

Figure 9 is an edge view partly broken away of that form of the invention illustrated in Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating a still further modified form of the invention, and,

Figure 11 s a horizontal sectional-view taken substantially on the line I l-H of Figure 10.

-A ladder constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises steps [5, side members or stiles'l fi, and spacing ears l1, ther being a spacing ear carried by each end of each of the steps l5.

,In accordance with that form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 through 7 of the drawings, each of the steps. isformed by two tread members [8.

. These tread members are formed from suitably shaped pieces of wood and they are, in the finishedladder, retained in spaced parallel relation to each other by end members [9 in the form of metal channels, which receive the ends of the tread members Hi, the tread members lBbeing geacured'to the end members l9 preferably by rivets The stiles it are formed by chains, the links 2i of which have a shank portionZZ which consists of two spaced parallel legs 23. The spacing ears I! areformed of woody and are preferably. oval in form and in the final assembly they are secured to their respective stiles withtheir longitudinal axes in parallelism with the length of the stiles.

Each spacingear consists of two members, see Figure 7, there being an inner member 24 and an outer member 25 and in attaching the spacing ears to the stiles, the two members 24 and 25 are secured together in face to face relation with the stile disposed between them.

The inner member 24 of a spacing ear is provided upon its inner face with a transversely extending groove 21 located substantially centrally of the ends of the member and this groove receives theend member H] of a step l5.

Upon its outer face, the inner member 24 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 28 for the reception of the stile IS.

The grooves 2'! and 28 are of such depth that at their point of intersection, which is substantially at the center of the member 24, an opening 30 results. This opening 3|! is suitably enlarged for a purpose to be hereinafter described, by cutting away a, portion of the side walls of the groove 28 as at 3|.

The outer member 25 of the spacing ear is formed on its inner face with: a longitudinally extending groove- 36. The: groove 36 is. so positioned in the: member 25- as to coincide with the groove '28; of the member 24' so that together, they form a stile: receiving. space which. extends longitudinally through the spacing ear when the two members 24 and Z5 are: secured together in face to face relation as heretofore mentioned.

A clip 40: is employed to secure the stile directly to the end member l9 of'astep. This clip is formed of metal and it is shaped to provide two spaced parallel transverselyextending channels 4| for the reception of the spaced leg members 23 which form the shank portion 22' of a link2| or: the stile |'6-.

Still referring to Figure 7', the manner in which the complete assembly is accomplished will no be described.

The clip 4c, heretofore mentioned, serves to secure the stile l6 directly to the end member 9 of a step and this operationis performed prior to the securing of the tread members |8 of the step, in the following manner.

The end member I9 is placed in the transversely extending groove 21 of the inner member 24 of the spacing ear with its open side disposed outwardly with respect to theinner face of the member 24.

With these parts in this last mentioned position, the central portion of the closed wall of the end member |9,will be available from the outer'face of the member 24 through the opening 3| thereof. 7 I

The stile is next placed in the longitudinally extending groove 28 in the outer face of the member 24 with the shank portion 22 of .one of its links. 2| coinciding with the opening 3|..

With the parts in this position, the clip 4|! is placed in the opening 3| with its channels 4| embracing their respective leg members of the shank portion 22 of the link.

For securing the clip 46 and the stile 16 to theend member I9, three rivets are employed,

these rivets passing through openings 46 in the end member of the step by a connection which prevents pivotal movement of the step relative to the link of the stile to which the step is secured.

The next step in the assembly is to place the outer member 25 of the spacing ear in position in registration with the inner member of the spacing ear and secure together the members of the spacing ear and also to secure the spacing ear to the step.

With the two members 24 and 25 of the spacing ear arranged in registration, rivets 50 are passed through openings 5| and 52 respectively in the inner and outer members of the spacing ear and said rivets, when set, serve to secure together in face to face relation, with the stile between them, the two members 24 and 25, to form the complete spacing ear.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that when the two members 24 and 25 are secured together, the member 25 serves to secure the spacing ear to the stile in such a manner as to prevent pivotal movement of both the step and the stile relative to that length of the stile to which they are secured.

The rivets 50, heretofore mentioned, are so located in the members 24 and 25 that they pass between the leg members of the shank portion of their respective stile link next adjacent to each end of that stile link which is secured by the clip 4|] to the end member l9 of the step.

With the parts thus far assembled, the spacing ear is next secured directly to the end member I!) of the step by means of rivets 66. These rivets pass through openings 6| in the outer member 25, openings 62 in the inner member 24, and openings 63 in the end member l9.

As thus far described; it will be seen that'the end member, the two members of the spacing ear and the stile have been secured together and the assembly is ready for the final step which consists in securing the tread members l8 of the step to the end members |9 thereof.

As best illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, the side flanges of the end member |9 extend beyond the inner face of the inner member 24 of the spacing ear, a suificient distance to accommodate the rivets 20, heretofore mentioned.

This construction, therefore, readily permits of attachment of the tread members l8 to the, end member H) by means of the rivets 20 which latter pass through openings 6.5v in the end-members l9 and openings 66. in the ends of the tread members I8. I 1

From the foregoing it will be apparentthat the step is secured directly tothe stile,. the stile is secured directly to the spacing ear and the spacing ear is secured directly to the step.

In the modified form of the invention'illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the. drawings, the spacing ear which is designated 10 in said figures is of oval shape and is formed from a single piece of material.

In this form of, the invention, the spacing ear is provided upon its inner face with a transversely extending groove 1| for the reception-of the end member IQ of the step, it being understood that the step in this form of the invention is of the same construction as. inthe form heretofore described.

Upon its outer face, the ear is provided with a longitudinally extending groove "which in .itself is of sufiicient depth to. receive the chain wholly therein.

The two grooves 1| and 12 are of such relative depths at their intersection thatan opening 13 which extends entirely through theear results, andwhich opening is enlarged upon the outer face of the ear as indicated at 14. y The stile I6 lies within the longitudinally extending groove I2 and is secured directly to the end member I9 by means of a clip I5 and rivets I6 in substantially the same manner "as in the aforedescribed form of the invention. r

In assembling this form of the inventiony the stile I6 is laid in the groove I2 of the spacing earand secured to the end'm'ember I9 of the'step by the clip I5 and the rivets "I6, after which the spacing ear I0 is secured directly to the-end member I9 of the step by rivets ll, the tread members I8 being finally secured to the end members I9 by the rivets 20.

In that form of the invention illustratedgin Figures 10 and 11 of thedrawingathe' end member 80 of the step is in the form of a flat strip of metal instead ofthe channel employed in the other forms of the invention.

The steps in this form are also of different construction in that the tread members 8| may be either round or square in cross sectional form. The spacing ear 85 is providedawith' two openings 83 and the ends of the tread members 8! carry enclosing caps 84 which are received in'the openings 83 of the spacing ear and which are secured to the end members Bil of the step by rivets 86.

The stile I 6' is secured directly to the en'd member 80 by-a clip 81 by means of rivets 88- which With the parts-thus far assembled, the ends of the tread members 8! are inserted into their respective caps 84 a'ndsecured'in position thereiin by rivets r98.

In this/form invention, the stile It is illustrated as lying directly in contact with the outer face of the spacing ear, there preferably being no groove to receive the stile.

It will be noted that in describing each form of the invention the attachment of but one end of a step to a single spacing ear and stile have been described.

It is to be understood, however, that the construction described in each case, is employed at each end of each step.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides constructions by means of which wooden steps of spaced tread elements and wooden ears may be practically employed in combination with chain side stiles in ladders of the flexible type.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a ladder of the type described in combination, side stiles in the form of chains, wooden steps in. the form of spaced individual tread members, and wooden spacing ears, means for maintaining the tread members in spaced relation, means for securing said tread members spacing means directly to the stiles, and means stiles.. 1

Ina ladder of. the type described in cornforsecuring the spacing ears directly to the bination, side stiles'in the form of chains, wooden steps in the' 'form of spaced individual tread members; and wooden spacing ears, means for securing said tread members inspaced relation,

means for securing said tread members spacing means directly to the stiles, means for securing the spacing ears directly to the stiles, and means for securing the spacing ears to the tread members spacing. means.

35A ladder of the type described comprising in combination, wooden steps, flexible chain stiles and wooden spacing ears of sufficient thickness -of their respective chain stiles, means for secur- :ing the spacing ears to their respective step end embracing members, and means for securing the spacing ears to their respective stiles.

' l-,';A.ladder of the type described'comprising incombination, wooden steps, flexible stiles and channeled spacing ears formed of wood, said ears being; of sufficient thickness to receive the stiles whollyswithin the channels thereofl'said steps comprising aqpair of spaced individual tread members,-means for retaining the tread mem bers'in spaced parallel relation, means for securingthe tread members spacing means to its respective stile, means for securing a spacing ear to the tread members spacing means, and means for securing a stile within the channel of the spacing ear. I

'5. In a ladder of the type described in come bination, side stiles, wooden steps and wooden spacing ears, each of said steps comprising spaced wooden tread members, means embracing the ends of said tread members for securing them together in spaced relation, each of said spacing ears comprising'a wooden body portion having a transversely extending groove for the reception of the ends of the tread members and their spacing means and alongitudinally extending passage !for the reception of a side stile, means for securing the step member to a side stile, means for securing, a spacing ear. to a side stile, and means for securing a spacing ear to the step.

6. In a ladder of the type described in combination, side stiles in the form of link chains. wooden steps and wooden spacing ears, each of said steps comprising spaced wooden tread members, means embracing the ends of said tread members for securing them together in spaced relation, each of said spacing ears comprising a wooden body portion having a substantially centrally disposed opening therethrough, and a stile receiving passage intersecting said opening through the body, means positioned in the opening of the ear for embracing one of the links of a side stiles for securing the side stile directly to one end of a step with the stile positioned a side stile disposed between them, means for securing said members together and to a side stile, means for securing the side stile to a step end,

and means for securing the ear to the-step end.

8. In a ladder of the type described in combination, side stiles in the form of link chains, wooden steps and wooden spacing ears, each of said spacing ears comprising two members of similar shape adapted to be secured together in face to face relation with a side stile disposed between them, and each provided with grooves which register to receive a side stile between the members when placed in 'face to face relation and one of said members'having a substantially centrally disposed opening to expose a portion of the side stile within the confines of the spacing ear, means positioned in the central opening of the one member for securing one end of a step to the stile exposed in said opening, means for securing the members together in face to face relation with the side stile disposed in the aforementioned coinciding grooves of the members to secure the spacing ear to aside stile, and means for securing the spacing ear directly to said step end.

9. A wooden spacing ear for chain ladders comprising two similar shaped members adapted to be secured together in face to face relation with a ladder stile disposed between the members,-

said members having coinciding grooves in their meeting faces which provide a stile receiving space extending through the ear when the members are secured together, a step end receiving groove in the outer face of one of the members, said groove intersecting the stile receiving groove of said member to form a substantially centrally disposed opening within the confines of the member to expose a portion of a ladder stile disposed between the members and to receive attaching means for securing a ladder step directly to the exposed portion of the stile, and means for securing the two members together in face to face relation to form the spacing ear.

10. A wooden spacing ear for chain ladders comprising two similarly shaped members adapted to be secured together in face to face relation with a ladder stile disposed between the mem bers, said members having coinciding grooves in their meeting faces which provide a stile receiving space extending through the ear when the members are secured together, a step end receiving groove in the outer face of one of the members,

said groove intersecting the stile receiving groove .of said member to form a substantially centrally disposed opening within the confines of the member to expose a portion of a ladder stile disposed between the members and to receive attaching means for securing a ladder step directly to the exposed portion of the stile, and means for securing the two members together to form the spacing ear and to secure the spacing ear to a ladder stile.

11.'A wooden-spacing ear for chain ladders comprising two similarly shaped members adapted to be secured together in face to face relation with a, ladder stile disposed between the members, said members having coinciding grooves in theirmeeting faces which provide a stile receiving space extending through the ear when the members are secured together, a step end receiving groove in the outer face of one of the members, said groove intersecting the stile receiving groove of said member to form a substantially centrally disposed opening within the confines of the member to expose a portion of a ladder stile disposed between the members and to receive attaching means for securing a ladder step directly to the exposed portion of the stile, and separate means for securing the spacing ear to a ladder step.

12. A wooden spacing ear for chain ladders comprising two similarly shaped members adapted to be secured together in face to face relation with a ladder stile disposed between the members, said members having coinciding grooves in their meeting faces which provide a stile receiving space extending through the ear when the members are secured together, a step end receiving groove in the outer face of one of the members, said groove intersecting the stile receiving groove of said member to form a substantially centrally disposed opening within the confines of the member to expose a portion of a ladder stile disposed between the members and to receive attaching means for securing a ladder step directly to the exposed portion of the stile, and separate means for securing the spacing ear to a ladder, said last mentioned means also serving to secure the members of the ear together.

HAROLD P. HOPP. EDWARD KUNZELMAN. 

